LINCOLN, Neb. — Possessions in the final minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime decided seven games last season for Nebraska. The Huskers lost five. They beat Rutgers with defense and gained three first downs to run out the clock in the Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College.

Eighteen Nebraska drives began after the end of the third quarter with a margin on the scoreboard of eight points or less. It got positive outcomes on three. Eight possessions ended in punts, four with turnovers and one apiece on a missed field goal, on downs and the end of regulation.

“It’s been an emphasis,” said quarterback Dylan Raiola, who started every game for the Huskers in 2024. “We’re not going to lose any more of those.”

Raiola holds the key to bettering Nebraska’s late-game and third-down missteps. His maturation as a QB in this second offseason of his collegiate career looms large.

Three months in, Raiola’s progress is evident.

He’s slimmed down, an objective stated by Matt Rhule in each of the coach’s media sessions since the calendar turned to 2025. According to his teammates and coaches, Raiola has advanced in his leadership. And he’s working, at the outset of spring practice this week, to correct subtle deficiencies in his game and around him on offense that kept Nebraska from winning the moments that mattered most last year.

“He’s 19 years old,” Rhule said. “He’s a very, very focused young man. So he’s working at it. And I think he’ll be really good.”

Raiola, the former five-star signee out of Buford, Ga., was chosen last year as the starter in August. However, an expectation of greatness arrived with him at Nebraska in January of his first year on campus.

He threw for 2,819 yards on 67.1 percent passing. Both marks set freshman records at Nebraska and led true freshmen nationally. Raiola tossed 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

When Dana Holgorsen took over in November as offensive coordinator for the Huskers’ final four games, he said he noticed that Raiola seemed to spend time “in the shadows.”

Holgorsen, a head coach in the Big 12 for eight seasons (and 13 overall), said Raiola didn’t embrace the added responsibility of a leader because the young QB already faced so much pressure.

“He’s working on that right now,” Holgorsen said. “And I see a tremendous amount of growth with him, with his leadership skills. He’s a great teammate and he understands the importance of leading. And that’s rubbing off on a lot of the guys.”

Rhule emphasized leadership as a Raiola priority from the start of this year.

“Before he can make it his team, he has to make it his offense,” Rhule said last month. “And before he can make it his offense, he has to make it his receiving corps.”

Rhule watched Raiola keep a quiet voice in the team setting last year in his bid to earn respect.

“Now he has to step up and lead,” Rhule said.

That means demanding that the receivers show up for offseason workouts arranged by Raiola.

“Year 1, it’s like, ‘I asked them. Five guys showed up.’” Rhule said. “Well, that’s not leadership. That’s trying to be a leader. Leadership is when you get everybody there.”

And this year?

“He’s been real serious about what he’s doing,” wide receiver Jacory Barney said.

Receiver Dane Key, a transfer from Kentucky vying for the WR1 spot, visited Raiola at the quarterback’s home in Georgia during the decision process.

“He’s growing up really quick,” running back Emmett Johnson said. “He’s learned a lot from last season. He’s seen what it takes to play in the Big Ten.”

Raiola’s completion rate in the fourth quarter dropped from 68.1 percent to 61.8. His yards per attempt fell from 7.7 in the first three quarters to 4.6 in the fourth.

On third down, Raiola completed 56.8 percent (54 of 95) of his throws, 14 points lower than on first and second down.

There’s room to improve.

Raiola started the process by watching film of the Huskers’ close defeats last year. Five losses came by a combined 29 points in a 7-6 season.

“As much as it hurts watching, you have to,” Raiola said.

He’d prefer to avoid tight outcomes. It’s not a reality in the Big Ten, though.

“That’s when you win games,” Raiola said. “That’s when you make money.”

Holgorsen is already deep into a process to revamp Nebraska’s two-minute offense. If up to Raiola, Holgorsen said, the Huskers would operate up-tempo at all times.

“But he also understands who his dad is and who his uncle is,” Holgorsen said, “and the importance of being physical and tough and being able to run the football.”

Raiola’s father, Dominic, of course, earned All-America honors as a center at Nebraska and played 14 years in the NFL. Dominic’s brother, Donovan Raiola, coaches the Huskers’ offensive line.

Dylan’s got the football DNA of an offensive lineman. He’s savvy like an O-lineman, too, Holgorsen said he’s learned since November. When the coach corners Raiola to discuss the nuance of a new play in the Huskers’ repertoire, the sophomore often cuts Holgorsen off to explain the play himself.

“I’ve never been with a quarterback,” Holgorsen said, “that is comfortable in the gun and can sit in the pocket and be a dropback passer — but also get under center and make run-game checks. He’s exceptional at it. And so we’re going to do it.

“He’s smart. He understands football.”

This offseason, Raiola also understands the importance of getting in the best shape of his playing career. Rhule introduced the topic publicly in February. On March 11, the coach said that Raiola knows he “won’t be a great quarterback at 240 pounds.”

Raiola, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, went to work this winter. He added a boxing workout to his morning regimen. He ran a mile after lifting sessions and added more cardio sessions.

“If I’m being honest, it sucks,” Raiola said Thursday. “It’s a constant grind every day. You don’t see change right away. It doesn’t change in a day. It doesn’t change in a week.”

His dad played a big role in the change, the QB said. Raiola credited Nebraska’s strength and nutrition staff. Over spring break, Raiola said, his weight loss efforts broke through. He returned to Lincoln last weekend nine or 10 pounds lighter than when he left.

“I feel amazing right now,” he said.

His outlook for 2025 is on the rise.

(Photo: Mitch Sherman / The Athletic)